According to a former employee of Shami's company, Farouk Systems, which reportedly pulled in $27.4 million in revenue in 2008, the answer is yes.

Bobbi Mihal claims in Harris County District Court that she was discriminated against and fired as the general counsel for Farouk Systems because she is not Muslim and does not speak Arabic. She is suing the company and its CEO, Rami Shami, the son of Farouk Shami.

According to the lawsuit, Mihal, a 49-year-old Caucasian who was hired as general counsel in 2007 and never had any problems at work, was fired without notice earlier this year and replaced by a less experienced attorney who is Muslim and speaks Arabic.

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What's more, claims Mihal, is that the attorney who replaced her had previously been hired by the company, but let go, allegedly with Rami Shami's consent, for his "lack of skills and abilities." However, says Mihal, the day after the attorney was fired, she was also terminated, and the company "refused to allow [her] to remove her belongings, including but not limited to [her] law books and blank checks and files that belong to her as Treasurer of the Campaign for Governor of Farouk Shami."

After the fact, claims Mihal, Rami Shami told her she was fired for terminating the other attorney without his permission. Mihal says that the reason for her termination is "not legitimate, pretextual and fraudulent."

Hair Balls left a message with Rami Shami's office but have not yet heard back from him.

Mihal is claiming discrimination, defamation and fraudulent misrepresentation. She is seeking back pay and damages.